SenoritaMaxie: I remind you of yourself? You're too cute, I don't write as much or as well. but I love the compliment.

I can't say I'm familiar with your Draco, I'm reading The Second Road to Death and that deals with the marauders remember? Which is a cool story you all should read yo! So I'm not sure how you write Draco but this is Draco upset after fighting with Harry, it's also Draco the third year, and it's also uhm, Alex Storm who is waaaaaaaaaaaaay older than Draco and that's all your getting from me on that. So as ingeniously sarcastic as you could write him Alex would always be wittier having read Pope and Swift and well when you're that old you're that wise. I'm sure I'd love your Draco though ... sounds like my Blaise Zabini.

Connie: ever faithful, ever present Conners. I'm glad you like my characterizations, though I know they're uniquely mine. I just try to remember that Neville is a bit of a nebbish but knowing what he grows up to be ... well ... oh and I was channeling my Neville from Love's Whimsical where he had alchemic abilities ... which may or may not appear here

Droo: I know ... my muse is very fickle, but she's also out of practice which is why I've been trying to post a little everyday. She needs to get back on the horse ... and I never abandon a story if I can help it.

I appreciate you all still reading my story. I know I have not been that faithful to it, personal problems, but I intend to write it and make it epic and awesome, you all give me your precious time and I intend not to let it be squandered. So, thank you and here's another post.

On an entirely seperate and random note, I just came from seeing How to train your dragon and while I hate 3D, the movie was brilliant you all should see it. I'm crushing on Hiccup now Expect fanart x2



You'll remember my spy I hope dear readers because that's where we are going again.

As the airship Starry Night flew over Cardiff, the city seemed happy and content brightly lit and busy, the cloudy night reflecting on the puddles and the wet streets as a soft quiet rain passed not dampening the town's spirits on a celebratory Friday night. Music could be heard coming from some locales, the sounds of the football matches could be heard as well as the cheering or the booing when the doors flung open at the pubs. The same however could not be said of the airship Starry Night hidden amidst the clouds over the city.

"It's looks like lightning tonight mate. This drizzles gonna turn ugly, from the looks of that dark cloud," a man told his friend as they walked down to catch a cab and start their evening's entertainment.

His companion looked up. Sure enough, a cloud in the distance would light up and then darken again, but there was something funny about it, like there was a silhouette of something or other.

"Funny thing is ... there's lightning but no thunder." He shrugged and they hailed a cab. He hadn't told his mate that he also thought it funny that every time the lightning flashed he could swear he was seeing a silhouette of a zeppelin with sails.

Meanwhile, things aboard the Starry Night were less than celebratory. The ship was aflame, the helium leaking fast from it and every instant coming ever closer to the sails which were the only thing keeping her aloft even now.

"If we crash amidst the muggles sir, I can't begin to tell you the disaster that will be for the organization, sir. The great high commander will be most displeased," the officious midshipman explained to the captain as the round short white bearded man looked around at his crew running to and fro on the ship's deck trying to stop the fires with magic and trying desperately to repair the balloon.

"How could this even happen? This is a magical ship, we've got defenses!"

"Perhaps if you'd listened to me before captain when I'd suggested that we ..."

"Midshipman Andrews!" the captain commanded.

"Yes sir?"

"May I see your firearm?"

"Why yes sir." The midshipman replied careful to hand it over with the safety on and handle first. "You'll find sir that it is up to regulation standards and ..."

BANG!

"Odious toad. Get him off my deck and someone stop those blasted fires! We don't need the muggles anymore than we need the bloody Ministry of Magic finding out about the existence of the organization. I don't need to tell you all, we'll be as dead Midshipman Andrews and a lot less swiftly or mercifully," the captain remarked gruffly. He needed something strong but now was not the time. First he had to save his ship and then ... he'd send out the hellhounds after whoever was on his ship. If a spy survived he'd be just as dead and he alone as no one else was responsible for what went on his ship.



"You don't seriously think you're going to stop me do you?" the man asked. "A boy like you? What are you, twelve, thirteen?" the pepper and salt haired man asked condescendingly. "Go on back home boy before I send you there in pieces." The man turned away from him.

Wolf Hunter watched him. The old rogue in his resplendent dress robes, something like a muggle tuxedo. He was smoking, which is why he had walked up to the roof of the building, it seemed even in the wizarding world the disgusting habit was frowned upon. Of course, none of this was a mystery to Wolf. He always studied his marks before he went in for the kill.

Rodolphus Agamemnon Aerope, the dossier read, a stolen magical artifacts tycoon, whose fortunes were laundered through his legitimate but failing magic carpet and rare pet shop businesses. Rodolphus has a penchant for stealing, which began in his childhood, an affinity for valuable priceless objects which he hoarded like a dragon sometimes acquiring objects and switching them with counterfeits at least when dealing with muggle clients. He was watched around the clock by bodyguards, at his wife's insistence, she being a partner in his illicit businesses, and a thief of world renown herself, see Amanda Waller separate dossier.

For weeks now Wolf had been watching his movements and learning his patterns and habits. It was in this way that he had come to know Rodolphus and his insatiable habit or rather addiction and was now using it to his advantage. He had jumped, in wolf form from a separate roof, rather than crash the party and be recognized on finding the man alone. It was now in this instant that weeks of hard work would pay off handsomely.

"You still here, brat?" the man asked.

Something about the look in Wolf's eyes unnerved the man. His beautiful eyes which reflected the moonlight perfectly, with a cold distance. A chill ran up the old rogue's spine.

"Do I know you from somewhere or something?" He flicked the butt at the boy and with his other hand made to grab his wand, but Wolf was quicker.

"Expelliarmus!"

The wand flew out of the man's hands off the rooftop to the ground thirty stories below. It would be a while before it clattered to the ground.

"Who sent you? Look, I can pay you more than they're giving you. What is it you want, gold, jewels? Is this what you're after?" He made to take something from out of his jacket.

"Avada Kedavra!" the boy replied.

Something fell on the graveled roof, as a green flash fired and the man followed his wand.

Wolf looked over the edge of the building. People were gathering already. There would be nothing to connect him to the death. He kicked something on the ground, looked and bent down to pick it up. It was a brooch. Silver with pearls, the crest in the center was clearly Ravenclaw, a Hogwarts house. From the looks of it old. He pocketed it and hearing footsteps coming up the stairs he ran to the other edge of the rooftop.

A wolf bounded away into the night, running and jumping from rooftop to rooftop.

Ahhh ... Well, that explains it then. Very clever of you!

Uh-oh! I bet he shouldn't have said this: Oh dear! Poor Midshipman Andrews Interesting this. Did you do this on purpose? Of course you did, cause you're so clever. Agamemnon: Commander of the Greek army in the Trojan War. And this airship has a spy on board. Plus, his name is divided into 3 syllables with each 1st and third letter being the same in each of the 3 syllables. Aga mem non. Strange yes? Anyway, that was clever I must say. Nice! He was looking for a way to get into Hogwarts.
I was just thinking about that movie wondering if it was good. And The Last Air Bender. I want to see it very badly. I love the cartoon Avatar!
Great post ~Otts You never cease to amaze me. Loved every bit of it. Catch ya later.

The sounds of swords clanging one against the other, sliding off each other like a butcher sharpening his knives, rattled through the castle. Ronald Weasley was fighting alongside one of the castles many suits of armor against one of the steam powered automatons that had invaded the castle. Together they were holding their own, as Seamus and Dean entered the courtyard.

"What do you think's going on mate?" Seamus remarked.

"What does it look like love?" Dean asked. "It's a siege!"

"Well technically a siege would be if they were still outside the castle, I think this ranks as an invasion," Luna Lovegood corrected as she and a blonde haired boy popped in.

The castle wall nearest them exploded sending rocks, dust and shards of stone flying at them and in every direction. Dean threw himself over Seamus knocking him over and protecting him from the blast, Luna who had been holding her wand in her hand called up a magical shield around Rolf and her, the stones bouncing off.

As the dust settled, a clanking whirring machine on two legs with exhaust pipes and turrets like a tank on legs began to walk through the hole in the wall.

"Okay, now it's officially an invasion," Rolf murmured from behind Luna.

"What the ...?" Dean asked.

"It's a Gerwalk Panzer Tank, mark 3, you can tell becuase they've got a rotating turret on the top and two on the sides, on the older models they don't rotate. It's a steam powered walker tank unit." Seamus replied.

Dean helped his friend up, looking at him in shocked awe. Seamus blushed and shrugged, "I like steampunk."

The topmost turret took aim at Ron Weasley who had his back to it. Luna raised her wand and with a flick and a swish had plugged the barrel with a fallen rock.

"Nice work Luna," Rolf said from where he was kneeling behind her. "I woulda've done it but ... uhm, I'm a little scared."

Just then all around the castle armored gryphons with riders descended on the castle walls landing on the towers and on the parapets and battlements. Their riders were all cloaked in black and held lances which carried banners of different sorts.

"This looks like the end," Dean said standing in front of Seamus and covering him with his body. Seamus turned to look at his friend. Dean stuck out his hand to shake and took out his wand, a determined look on his face.

"If you kiss me, I'll punch you," Seamus said. "This isn't over! Not until the last one of us is dead!" He screamed and it echoed in the courtyard.

Dean smiled.

Just then, Ottery ran into the courtyard chased by a stone dog on fire, and he stopped as an armored gryphon descended in front of him. The dark haired boy fell to the floor and started scooting back until the dog snapped at him.

"Nice doggie, nice doggie!" The dog barked and snapped at him coughing up ash and dust. "See if I give you any treats you little b..."

"Cease your prattling fool boy, you are conquered. Take me to your leader." The knight atop the gryphon exclaimed as they pointed their spear at the boy's throat.

"Yeah, sure," Ottery said slowly standing up, the spear never leaving his neck.

The knight dismounted, the gryphon snapped at Ottery and the boy took a step back only to jump forward again as the dog tried to bite the back of his robes.

"This is getting dangerous!" he exclaimed.

The knight took off its helmet and stood before Ottery. She shook her golden hair and let it fall around her shoulders picked up by the wind.

"Hey, you can't take Hogwarts you're just a girl!" the dark haired boy exclaimed.

The girl punched him across the face and the boy landed on his bum.

"And this is the part where I come in," Professor Mandelbrot said appearing from out of a cloud of dust as if he had apparated, sword in one hand, wand behind one ear (which he'd copied from Luna) and a spear in the other hand. As swiftly as you read this the spear was launched from his hands at the armored woman, he swung the sword and dispatched the dog slicing it's stone head off leaving it yelping in its death throes, it's body falling down in ash and charcoal and he had his wand in his hand. "Voila! I save the day!"

"Except there's like a thousand spear men," someone in the crowd yelled, "Hey!" on hearing that, "I mean spear carriers pointing at you, oh and this gryphon here," Ottery remarked as the beast snapped at him.

"I'm not dead either," the woman knight remarked throwing the spear back at Professor Mandelbrot.

There was a scream and a sound of thunder.

♥

Connie: Hey Conners uhm, no I think you missed a few things. Wolf Hunter is an assassin by trade so uhm, he killed that thief cuz someone had taken a hit on him. The brooch is ... uhm, read the story again and ask me later about the brooch for those of you who remember Shhhhhhhhh. I hope this is enough of a clue as to what's going on but ... if not. In the next chapter ... Hogwarts under siege or Siege him!

Too cute! Yea!!!!!!!! Ottery is alive. But, alas goes from one predicament right into another. But, that's our Qttery. Yes, I know he' is, but I thought, never mind. I'll wait for the next post. I've already visited your visitor's message board, and , well you know how long winded I am. I may have worn out my welcome.

Connie: You are long-winded Conners, but you never wear out your welcome. Sometimes I just ... don't feel like replying to everything someone says and I always feel like I'm obligated to reply so I get overwhelmed.

That aside, I'm glad you're liking my story. I'm trying very hard to post everyday and regain some momentum and some more readers, which isn't really working but oh well, at least for my readers who are here they'll have something to look forward too.

Neways, mystery time is over, time to pull back a few curtains.

♥

Explosions wracked the ship. The balloon of the zeppelin had fallen over the body covering the windows and making it impossible to see where they were going. Airship sailors were running back and forth trying to get the balloon repaired and off the ship, while others tried to stop the fires that had caught on the sails, and still others were calling up wind to keep the ship afloat and out of muggles prying eyes. In the midst of all this chaos, Remus Lupin, wearing a uniform he had stolen, hat ducked down over his eyes walked around trying to find an exit. If he could reach the forward cargo hold he could find a glider and get away.

There were important bits of information he had learned. The group was ...

kids ... have to come back to this later ... this is an unexpected cliffie, sorry

Surely you don't think we expect you to. Please don't feel like you need to. Being overwhelmed is not healthy. I know from years of experiance. REMUS! My secret unsung hero, what are you doing there? Must check to see if it is a full moon tonight! Be safe Remus, and get that glider to safety, so you can report your important bits of information. !Otts, please come back quickly! I can only pass out so many times, and not have permanent side affects. this looks to be another great post. I'll be watching for you to come back. And you know I mean that.

Ottery St.Catchpole,
Excellent FF! My new friend, Connie told me about you, and I spent an afternoon reading. I think I may have missed a few key points in my hurry to see what would happen next, but intend to go back and reread, after I give one of your earlier FF a quick read.

You're a great writer, and I really look forward to your next post. I might even be knowledgeable enough, by then, to put my two cents in.
Katie, your newest fan!

Explosions wracked the ship. The balloon of the zeppelin had fallen over the body covering the windows and making it impossible to see where they were going. Airship sailors were running back and forth trying to get the balloon repaired and off the ship, while others tried to stop the fires that had caught on the sails, and still others were calling up wind to keep the ship afloat and out of muggles prying eyes. In the midst of all this chaos, Remus Lupin, wearing a uniform he had stolen, hat ducked down over his eyes walked around trying to find an exit. If he could reach the forward cargo hold he could find a glider and get away.

There were important bits of information he had learned. The group was everything that Dumbledore had feared. They had a history that went back through time, ties with dozens of other secret societies some even more reclusive and hidden, ties with the muggle underworld, power brokers in and out of the Wizarding World. The group had sleeper agents in muggle and wizarding government, possibly even at Hogwarts, definitely in Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. The members of the Organization ranged from people in the werewolf and vampire clans to rogue sorcerers and even Hollywood movie stars.

The only problem was that while the organization had it's hand in many different kinds of dirty dealings from the illegal sale of rare magical creatures to muggles, stolen art, embezzling, assassination and any other number of illicit things, their main goal was still a mystery, and a very well guarded one at that.

He had documents and a book or two hidden in the soldier's satchel across his shoulder. Through the smoke and panic he made his way. He wondered that he shouldn't have taken some of the gold or jewels but that was not his way. Even after all the time he'd spent with the Marauders, he couldn't be as mischievous, they wouldn't have seen any harm in nicking a few things, especially from evil blokes.

"You? Where do you think you're going?" Someone asked.

Lupin turned around.

"Oh, sorry sergeant I'm new aboard the ship I didn't know ..." the man apologized.

Lupin merely nodded and walked on opening the metal hatch to the forward hold. He slipped in quietly. He would just pop in, grab a glider or a broom and be on his merry way. As he closed the door however he overheard something.

"... you talking about, the sergeant's on the bridge with the captain."

"So much for slipping out unnoticed," Lupin thought to himself. Taking his wand out he sealed the door shut with a spell. Likely it wouldn't last long, not if they decided to come through the walls but a few seconds could mean the difference between life and death.

He ran over to the wall opposite and pulled the lever to open the cargo bay doors. A gust of wind rushed in bringing with it the cold with a hard slap across the face at the same time as they started banging on the door. He took no notice, picked up a broom and started walking towards the exit. The doors were opening too slowly.

There was an explosion behind him as the door came flying past him. He ran to the end of the door and slid out of the opening doors. So much for waiting. Broom in hand he plummeted as spells went past him, they were firing at him! Suddenly he felt a jolt on his back and everything went black.

♥

Now that's a cliffie.

Connie: Yo Conners, what's up? I hope you don't mind I had you wait. It's just ... well the kids can't wait so ... you get the idea. I really hate cutting off a post like that but I write these on SS while I'm on SS. Unlike say Human Nature which I've been working on ... but not anywhere near posting ... I want to have a few posts and I still have to edit them so ... you'll have to wait, but when I do post you'll have them more regularly.

It's also why I think you like Human Nature more, my writing there is less guerrilla writing and more refined

And I do love my friends and readers so obviously I feel obligated to reply always ... I can't help it.

I know you're always here Conners I just didn't know you were pimping me

MissWeasley: Katie, If I'd have known I was going to have new readers I would have dressed better as it is ... well, this fic is a little rough but I'm glad you're liking it. Don't worry about the finer points ... uhm, I usually forget them but feel free to lemme know what they are and what you think. I hope you don't mind my lousy grammar.

I'm glad to have you here, I'd given up already on ever having new readers I'm just glad to have the ones I do, so you're a very welcome addition. Please feel free to critique or throw out suggestions or stuff, I'm an aspiring writer so I take this stuff seriously. If you don't that's cool too, I hope you keep liking the story and the direction it's going.

What other earlier fic of mine did you mean? I've got a few finished here on SS. Love's Whimsical Melancholy is my magnum opus if I do say so myself. If you were ever only going to read one thing I wrote ... that would be what I'd suggest. I've never been able to top that. Still I'm trying with Human Nature. But lemme know what you think and welcome aboard. Connie is a very sweet friend for telling you of me ... and just all around. I'm so flattered Conners

Loved this!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm sure none of my favorite Hollywood stars are involved though! Uh-oh! An announcement of impending doom if ever I heard one! Run Remus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I SAID RUN!

Great post ~Otts! Loved it Hope you can post double quick. I must know that Remus makes it ok. Oh, and about this: I always say, always take care of real life first. Especially if it's family. And I figured you was working on Human Nature. It's why I haven't been bugging you about it. Take your time to write it how you want it. It's worth the wait.

One more way you know Hollywood is dum ... The Smurf movie ... *facepalm*

And a moment of silence please Dick Giordano, one of the comic book greats passed away.

♥

Solemnity Fields was shopping for a dress, one of her favorite hobbies, but somehow her mind simply wasn't on it. Marcy had volunteered to come along the duplicitous little cow, most likely to make sure that Solemnity didn't buy a dress that would outdo hers, she wouldn't stop squawking about how it was being flown in by broom from France. A special order from the House of LaMarque etc. etc. ad nauseum. Solemnity didn't really care. She had already won the Frost Princess crown and she'd made sure that idiot Marcy and her little group of Heathers had realized she was not interested in Chad.


AN: Meh ... all the kids are here ... I need privacy and quiet to write not feelin' this ... back laterz.

Hey ~Otts, Post or not to post, that is the question. So, yesterday when you posted I thought I'd not post to that short enticing morsel you offered us, for two reasons. First for the moment of silence you asked for, for Dick Giordano. And then secondly, I thought I'd just post when you got the rest of the beginning you posted. But then, I thought, "Well, what if that counts as double posting?" It shouldn't be, but I decided not to make that an issue and just post to the little morsel. I'm sure her mind is on seberal things, but I still hope her dress is better than Marcy's.
Sending my friend to rescue a falling hero. There was a full moon last night, and he's unconcious. Hope help arrives in time.
Waiting for more ~Otts.

That was just a tease!

Solemnity Fields was shopping for a dress, one of her favorite hobbies, but somehow her mind simply wasn't on it. Marcy had volunteered to come along the duplicitous little cow, most likely to make sure that Solemnity didn't buy a dress that would outdo hers, she wouldn't stop squawking about how it was being flown in by broom from France. A special order from the House of LaMarque etc. etc. ad nauseum. Solemnity didn't really care. She had already won the Frost Princess crown and she'd made sure that idiot Marcy and her little group of Heathers had realized she was not interested in Chad.

Just the same her mind was not on shopping, her conscience was not bothered by her Neville death fixation but that boy assassin she'd sicced on him. He had not called her back, had told her nothing. Whatever owls she'd dispatched came back with the same terse message:

Dispatching someone is not as easy as it sounds. Stop bothering me about it, I'm working on it. Please stop calling me for updates, I will let you know how things progress.

~Wolf


Solemnity needed to have Neville dead, as long as he was alive and running around he was a constant annoyance to her otherwise perfect life. She needed him out of the picture, and perhaps then Wolf would go as well and she wouldn't spend so much time thinking about him, what he was doing, or where he was. Boys were the bane of any girls existence! But ... truth be told, existence wasn't that interesting without them.

"What do you think of this one?" Marcy asked, perky, smiling and holding up the most hideous turquoise, tafetta dress that had been produced in 1972.

"Are you spastic?" is what Solemnity wanted to say, but as dear mother used to always say, diplomacy before discourse, "It looks loveliest on you dear, but I couldn't possibly pull it off, sweets."

"I've already got a dress, Sol," Marcy replied. "You know, the La Marque that I'm having oweled all the way from ..."

Solemnity smiled and started humming in her head. If she heard her go on one more time about that stupid dress she'd have to throttle her.

"How about this one?"

Orange sherbert in faux silk with enough sequence to blind deer when struck by sunlight, as it was doing in Marcy's hands. Solemnity turned away, hiding her wand. Her first instinct had been to blast it but what excuse would she have for blowing up Marcy, right? The Headmistress would not be happy. Solemnity sighed. It was the Fall Ball she needed something in soft browns, or red, yellows to reflect the season, but then again she was the Frost princess so perhaps something in all white with glittering things and ... *sighs* this was going to be difficult and Marcy's blatant attempts at sabotage were not helping the situation at all.

God but she wanted to talk to Wolf right now.

♥

Connie: It's not double posting to post after I post, double posting is when you post two consecutive posts one after the other. If someone posts inbetween then you didn't double post ... I swear I've explained this before

Neways, Conners, And whose our falling hero? What? Where? When I post next ... mysteries solved ... and more given so ... there you go.

Droo: I swear I wasn't trying to tease but if it works I'm not above showmanship and shenanigans to get readers to stay.

How true, how true! And, just existing isn't living. Solemnity probably wouldn't mind if a great ape came and carried off Marcy. Then she could get a dress and be free to think of Wolf the rest of the time.:galadriel:
And there wasn't a need for an explanation this time. I was talking about you posting and then if nobody posted after you and you posted again, then I was afraid YOU would be in trouble for double posting. I didn't know if it would be counted as that since you was posting on your story. But never mind all that. I'm anxious for: Hope you can post soon ~Otts. Catch ya later.

Have you all gone to wish the April babies a Happy Birthday



Cold wind rushing past you at a couple hundred miles an hour will usually wake you up, no matter how strong the stunning spell. Remus woke up falling from the sky, the dark clouds rushing past and the bright shiny city beneath. The satchel was still at his side that was good but somewhere along the way he'd lost his broom, and that was bad.

"How would Bond get out of this?" Remus thought to himself.

"He's over here! Still alive?" he heard the sound of voices, and he looked around men on brooms. The airship captain had obviously wanted confirmation of his death, or his capture.

"Excellent!" Remus thought, "Now I know how James would do it." He spun around in the air and lay on his back, going limp, pretending to be unconscious. Let them come in closer and then ....



When last we left our intrepid heroes ...

"Except there's like a thousand spear men," someone in the crowd yelled, "Hey!" on hearing that Ottery amended, "I mean spear carriers pointing at you. Oh and this gryphon here," Ottery remarked as the beast snapped its dangerous beak at him. A beak strong enough to crack a coconut in one snap and sharp enough to cut steel.

"I'm not dead either," the woman knight remarked throwing her golden spear back at Professor Mandelbrot. In a vengeful swift throw that would find its mark.

There was a loud shrill scream and a sound of thunder.

The scream had been Parvati Patil who along with Lavender Brown had just walked out into the courtyard in time to see the professor struck down. As she saw the spear slamming into Professor Mandelbrot, he fell to the stone floor where he lay crumpled like a piece of paper. Ottery took out his wand and a dozen spears came at him. The dark haired boy spun around quickly and deflected a few of them, dodge a few others and fell down firing spells at the soldiers while Seamus, Dean, Luna and Rolf fired their spells trying to help the boy.

"This isn't looking good," Seamus said firing a fireball.

Dean merely nodded too busy intently concentrating on his spells.

"Kill them all!" the leader of the invaders cried out and her gryphon came at Ottery ready to snap his head off when suddenly there was a crack of thunder and a large lighting bolt struck in the middle of the castle courtyard causing a cloud of smoke and as it cleared there before them all powerful and majestic appeared Dumbledore.

"A bit melodramatic don't you think, Mandelbrot?" the headmaster asked.

"I thought I did well ... maybe not Oscar worthy but at least a Bafta or something," the Professor said laying the spear down next to him and standing up.

Everything stopped. Everyone, students and soldiers alike, turned to look at Professor Dumbledore, his sudden entrance having caught everyone's attention. "Besides, don't you usually leave these big little productions for your end of term exams?" Dumbledore asked goodnaturedly.

"I was testing the children Headmaster. You never know when Hogwarts might suddenly find herself invaded ..."

"Simultaneously, by an army of gryphon riding wizards, steam powered mecha, and demons."

"You forgot the dragon in the dungeons," the professor added from where he was sitting on the floor. "They're a bit of a specialty of mine. Used to try taming them once upon a time."

"What dragon?!" Dumbledore asked.

From atop one of the castle towers Draco Malfoy could be heard screaming down to them asking for his mommy, when suddenly a giant dragon tore through the battlements spreading its dark bat like wings to make it's final stand amidst a sea of purple fire. Draco was holding onto what was left of the tower wall which leaned precariously sideways.

"Wow, like in Sleeping Beauty," Ottery remarked. "I love that movie."

Professor Mandelbrot winked.

"You mean none of this ... is real?" Seamus asked.

Rolf who was cringing before a gryphon poked at it with his wand, and the beast snapped at him, "Feels real real to me."

With a wave of his hand, Professor Dumbledore made it all go away. The images shimmered and faded like smoke. The students looked around them. Ottery watched with an annoyed look as his heroic Ron disappeared. The school courtyard, the tower, the dragon, the cringing Draco Malfoy and the spear wielding soldiers as well as the Gerwalk mecha all were nothing more than wisps of smoky imagination.

"You mean it was all just ..." Dean started.

"An exercise to test our strengths and weaknesses. You wanted to see how we'd handle ourselves in a dire situation," Luna remarked. "Or you were trying to see if any of us were carrying shadow wraiths on our person."

"Right on the first one I'm afraid Ms. Lovegood," the Professor said good-naturedly. "No shade wraiths here."

"So it's not the end of the world?" Seamus asked again, incredulously.

"'Fraid not," Professor Mandelbrot replied smiling wickedly. "You all did remarkably well."

"Next time try to keep the world ending to a dull roar. I thought the Hufflepuffs were having a party in their dormitory," the Headmaster explained.

Calliope and Storm looked at one another. She looked away first and Alex sighed as she started walking away. Ottery crossed his arms and noticed Argent sitting in a corner of the room grooming himself. During the whole debacle he had seen an unfamiliar boy running around the school grounds wearing a Slytherin uniform. Possibly one of Professor Mandelbrot's imaginary invaders disguised as a student but Ottery had recognized everyone else in the dream battle. Every detail, every student, everyone had been the real Hogwarts to a meticulous degree. And during the whole invasion nowhere was the cat to be seen, yet here was Ginny, and Neville and there was the cat in the corner grinning daringly.

"No one leave please, I've still got assignments to hand out!" Professor Mandelbrot exclaimed.

Dumbledore gave Ottery a knowing smile and walked towards the great oak doors of the secret tower training room for the Secret Saturday Morning Marxist Reading and Action Adventure club, on his way to whatever secrets and machinations kept the headmaster busy.



AN:It's late no time for replies kiddies ... I do so hope you all liked the action though ... now that's a tease, no?

Oh Goody! I love it when you put stuff like that in! Makes me giggle and forget my headache. Ya think? But they're doing good though! I'm proud of them fighting back, instead of running for cover. Besides Ottery is amazing and all, but help is always a good thing. I love Dumbledore. The man's got style. That was good even at this third time I read it.
Yep, of course Ottery would notice that.
Was Ottery in on it the whole time?!?!?!?!?!
This was such a clever post ~Otts. Can't wait till Remus is safe and sound. I am still so surprised he was a spy. I thought maybe Teddy was there. But that's fine. I can take Remus being a hero. Watching for your next post ~Otts

AN: I thought posting everyday would help to bring in new readers, but woefully it has not been so. *sighs* Oh well, 'the best laid plans of mice and men ...' that said, the muse has been tickled and while she's not back yet, at least she's listening to my pleas you'd think I was trying to coax an old girlfriend back into a relationship, no? Perhaps that is what it is. In any event, she's not yet here, and neither are my new readers. *sighs*

Just the same I did say I would make this an epic story and I am going to! Just try and stop me ... no character piece this one full blow, war and whistles and all the bangs and drama that go with it. I just won't be posting as often not that I couldn't its just ... well, personal reasons. I am committed to this story so if you are reading please stay it will go places I promise and I will finish it. Now ... let's throw in more action.

Connie: Sorry Conners, Otty wasn't in on it ... otherwise he'd have been acting rather very well too, no?

If Wolf Hunter had had a diary it would probably have read something like this, filled with the crazy rantings and thoughts that pervaded his mind while on assignment:

"The problem isn't gettting into Hogwarts, the problem is whether I want to get in or not. I don't know anything about this Neville Longbottom except that I do know something about him and it's tied in with the loss of my memories. The problem with that is that I don't know why I lost my memories or even if someone isn't behind it. I've had to live with one eye over my shoulder looking always to see if anyone is watching me or if some assignment I'm on isn't just some trap to get to me. I sit there and try to find patterns in the cases and try to see if there isn't some over all plan or some scheme in which I'm a pawn, and ultimately the sacrifice. But to date there's been nothing.

I don't know anything except that I do know Neville and I do know Solemnity from some long ago long ago ... I just ... don't know how or why. I don't know why Solemnity doesn't remember me either, and I don't know why she makes me feel so ... so funny inside.

She also won't tell me what her beef is with the Longbottom kid. But from what I've been able to find out about him, he's as harmless as a mouse. Even Trevor has a more interesting night life than that nebbish."

Wolf stood atop the gargoyle watching the Ampersand Baxter Calderon Building. Meanwhile inside his prey waited.

♥

"I've been trapped in this stupid castle for weeks now," the grey haired boy complained. "It's getting frustrating. I can't get anywhere near the Headmaster's office and heaven's knows what some of that old wizard's secrets would sell for on the black market."

The cat was talking to himself as he had no friends at Hogwarts. It was a lonely place, what with having to hide his secret. That annoying ginger cat kept following him when it wasn't the caretaker's cat, Mrs. Norris. The only ones who wanted to be his friends were cats and he honestly wasn't interested. One was a total witch, and that Hermione's girl's cat was too much of a goody-two-shoes. Besides which they couldn't help find any prospects to mine money. If he were going to be stuck in Hogwarts the least he could have to show for it would be a nice little profit, but petty thievery was not his game. He wanted a big juicy secret or some secret weapon. The whereabouts of the boy who lived really weren't that important. But he still hadn't found a way out of the castle so he couldn't even try to sell that to that serial killer Sirius Black.

To date his endeavors had proved fruitless. He sighed and walked the corridors of the castle stealthily as a boy. With as many students as the school had it was likely the ghosts thought he was just another student and he was not foolish enough to go anywhere near the Dementors.

I declare ~Otts! I should have known I wouldn't get lucky enough to figure things correctly! Oh well, it's still loads of fun trying. Wolf Hunter's Diary, if he had one, sounds so sad, but I'd love to find out more about his history also. I like him, and he makes me want to know more about Solemnity, and what her beef is with Neville. I keep thinking about his (Wolf's) flashback. Solemnity, Wolf, and Neville happening to be at the same place at the same time, all under circumstances unrelated. Or maybe not.
What? More intrigue! I thought I liked Argent, but, now, I don't think I do.
~Otts, Only you know for sure, but it doesn't seem to me that your muse is gone, because your writing is wonderful. And really, I'm not just trying to make you feel better. And I hope you keep posting often. It's a bad time for the kids, cause of school, college, and all. All those tests they're all busy with, makes it hard for them to read, yet alone post. I've only had a few readers since I posted Friday morning, and one commented. A new friend of mine you met her here last wk. Miss Weasley. And she is very busy trying to get her story back on track. I'm sure you still have all your readers. Catch ya later.

Your Blaise would probably be the kind of Blaise I write. Blaise is... just cool like that. XD As for Draco, I have written a bit of him on SS. Chocolate Kisses, if you really want to read. Not to mention, the Draco Trilogy. It's the best fan fiction I've ever read, and it's .... just brilliant. So give that a try, if you can. =]

And, I guess age does matter. Even though I still don't see Draco as a whiny, little kid. ^___^

Veryyy... picture-able. xD

Great posts, well-written and epic and everything.
Update, when you can. I'm here, and reading.

=]